Magic Circle Festival is an annual heavy metal

Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 festival

Music festival

A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...

 organized by Magic Circle Music

Magic Circle Music

- History :Magic Circle Music was founded by Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio in 2005 named after Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen by which DeMaio is highly inspired. The purpose of the label is to give the band complete creative control of their operation...

, it first took place in Bad Arolsen

Bad Arolsen

Bad Arolsen is a small town in northern Hesse, Germany, in Waldeck-Frankenberg district. From 1655 until 1918 it served as the residence town of the Princes of Waldeck-Pyrmont and then until 1929 as the capital of the Waldeck Free State...

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 in 2007-2008 but moved to the Lorelei

Lorelei

The Lorelei is a rock on the eastern bank of the Rhine near St. Goarshausen, Germany, which soars some 120 metres above the waterline. It marks the narrowest part of the river between Switzerland and the North Sea. A very strong current and rocks below the waterline have caused many boat...

 in 2009 .

The first festival took place on July 6 and 7 2007.

In 2008 the festival was extended to four days, from the 9th until the 12th of July.

The third installment of the festival saw a venue change to the Lorelei

Lorelei

The Lorelei is a rock on the eastern bank of the Rhine near St. Goarshausen, Germany, which soars some 120 metres above the waterline. It marks the narrowest part of the river between Switzerland and the North Sea. A very strong current and rocks below the waterline have caused many boat...

. It was also reduced to 2 days but only included one day of music.

The fourth Magic Circle Festival took place in Metalcamp in Slovenia at 11 July 2010.

2007

• Black Situation
• David pen15 Group
• Gamma Ray
  Gamma Ray (band)
  Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...
  
  
• Heavenly
  Heavenly (French band)
  Heavenly, a power metal/neo-classical metal band from Paris, France, was formed in 1994 by vocalist Benjamin Sotto and drummer Max Pilo. They were originally a cover band and played under the name of 'Satan's Lawyer' before evolving into a full-fledged Helloween-influenced power metal outfit, and...
  
  
• HolyHell
  HolyHell
  HolyHell is a power metal band, formed in 2005, who are being produced by Joey DeMaio of Manowar. The band has delayed the release of their debut album, choosing instead to tour with Manowar and Rhapsody of Fire....
  
  
• Imperia
  Imperia (band)
  Imperia is a symphonic gothic metal band with opera influences from the Netherlands. They are fronted by vocalist Helena Iren Michaelsen. The band consists of Helena Iren Michaelsen, Gerry Verstreken, John Stam, Jan "Örkki" Yrlund, Steve Wolz and Audun Gronnestad.-Discography:* The Ancient Dance of...
  
  
• Lion's Share
• Manowar
• Messiah's Kiss
• Mob Rules
  Mob Rules (band)
  Mob Rules are a German power metal band. They were founded in 1994 by erstwhile Van Blanc guitarist Matthias Mineur and bassist Thorsten Plorin. Pulling in vocalist Klaus Dirks and drummer Arved Mannott, the quartet began to gig. Opening slots included shows with Pink Cream 69, C.I.T.A...
  
  
• Mordeen
• Saidian
• Sixth sense (band)
• Stormwarrior
  Stormwarrior
  Stormwarrior is a speed metal band from Germany that was formed in 1998 by vocalist and guitar player Lars Ramcke and drummer Andre Schumann, adding later in the same year guitarist Scott Bolter and bass player Tim Zienert...
  
  

Summary

The 2007 festival was notable for costing only 10 Euro

Euro

The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...

 per day, and had an attendance of approximately 25,000 people. The headline event of this festival was a performance from Manowar over the 2 nights.

2008

• Alice Cooper
  Alice Cooper
  Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
  
  
• Beloved Enemy
  Beloved Enemy
  Beloved Enemy is a 1936 American drama film directed by H.C. Potter and starring Merle Oberon, Brian Aherne, and David Niven. It was loosely based on the life of Michael Collins.-Plot:...
  
  
• Benedictum
  Benedictum
  Benedictum is an American heavy metal band formed in 2005 in San Diego, California. Their current line-up consists of vocalist Veronica Freeman, guitarist Pete Wells, bassist Chris Shrum, keyboardist Tony Diaz, and drummer Micky Pannone...
  
  
• Brazen Abbot
  Brazen Abbot
  Brazen Abbot is a Finnish rock band. Originally a studio project of Bulgarian guitarist, producer and song writer Nikolo Kotzev, who is a Finnish resident, the band has since made several live performances....
  
   (with Joe Lynn Turner
  Joe Lynn Turner
  Joe Lynn Turner , is an American rock singer, known for his works with Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Deep Purple. From the late 1990s, he continued to perform in a large number of solo albums and other studio projects...
  
  )
• Cassock (band) (Winner of the Battle of the bands contest)
• Def Leppard
  Def Leppard
  Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
  
   (canceled due to "contractual difficulties")
• Doro
  Doro (musician)
  Dorothee Pesch , popularly known as Doro Pesch or Doro, is a female rock vocalist, formerly of the German heavy metal band Warlock ....
  
  
• Gotthard
  Gotthard (band)
  Gotthard is a Swiss hard rock/heavy metal band founded in Lugano by Steve Lee and Leo Leoni. Their last eleven albums have all reached number 1 in the Swiss album charts, making them one of the most successful Swiss acts ever....
  
  
• HolyHell
  HolyHell
  HolyHell is a power metal band, formed in 2005, who are being produced by Joey DeMaio of Manowar. The band has delayed the release of their debut album, choosing instead to tour with Manowar and Rhapsody of Fire....
  
  
• Jack Starr's Burning Starr
  Jack Starr's Burning Starr
  Jack Starr's Burning Starr is an American heavy metal band from New York, formed in 1984. The band was founded and guided by former Virgin Steele guitarist Jack Starr and enjoyed limited success in the USA during the explosion of hair metal in the second half of the 80s...
  
  
• KOBUS!
  KOBUS!
  Kobus! is an Afrikaans extreme metal band formed in 2000 by ex-Springbok Nude Girls guitarist Theo Crous and ex-Voice of Destruction vocalist Francois Breytenbach Blom...
  
  
• Krypteria
  Krypteria
  Krypteria is a symphonic metal band from Germany. Originating from a 2001 "pop musical theatre studio project" of the same name, the idea was to use different vocalists, though German-Korean singer Ji-In Cho assumed the role of lead vocalist in 2004...
  
  
• Majesty/Metal Force
  Metal Force
  "Metal Force" is a Heavy Metal band from Germany.-History:The band is heavily influenced by Manowar both musically and lyrically, and even had former Manowar guitarist Ross "The Boss" Friedman appear on their second album, Sword & Sorcery.They call their music True Metal "Metal Force" (formerly...
  
  
• Manowar
• Michael Schenker Group
  Michael Schenker Group
  The Michael Schenker Group is a guitar-oriented hard rock band formed in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist, Michael Schenker. In 1986, Schenker and vocalist Robin McAuley formed the McAuley Schenker Group, which lasted until 1992. After that, the Michael Schenker Group was reformed.The...
  
  
• Mob Rules
  Mob Rules (band)
  Mob Rules are a German power metal band. They were founded in 1994 by erstwhile Van Blanc guitarist Matthias Mineur and bassist Thorsten Plorin. Pulling in vocalist Klaus Dirks and drummer Arved Mannott, the quartet began to gig. Opening slots included shows with Pink Cream 69, C.I.T.A...
  
  
• Sixth Sense (band)
• Stormwarrior
  Stormwarrior
  Stormwarrior is a speed metal band from Germany that was formed in 1998 by vocalist and guitar player Lars Ramcke and drummer Andre Schumann, adding later in the same year guitarist Scott Bolter and bass player Tim Zienert...
  
  
• Ted Nugent
  Ted Nugent
  Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
  
  
• Titanium Black
• W.A.S.P.
• Whitesnake
  Whitesnake
  Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
  
   (canceled due to "contractual difficulties")

Summary

The 2008 festival was the subject of some criticism owing mainly to the late cancellation of both Whitesnake

Whitesnake

Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...

 and Def Leppard

Def Leppard

Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...

 (Arguably 2 of the biggest acts of the festival). The festivals headline event was a performance from Manowar of their first 6 studio albums. Other highlights included a performance by Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...

 as well as Manowar giving away their 4 personally owned Choppers

Chopper (motorcycle)

A chopper is a type of motorcycle that was either modified from an original motorcycle design or built from scratch to have a hand-crafted appearance. The main features of a chopper that make it stand out are its longer frame design accompanied by a stretch front end...

.

2009

• Age Of Evil
• Crystal Viper
• Domain
  Domain (band)
  Domain is a German power metal band.- DOMAIN :Domain first impressed fans of melodic metal back in the 80s with their first works, "Lost In The City" , "Before The Storm" and "Crack in The Wall", as well as with their hit songs such as 'Lost In The City' and ‚ 'I Don’t Wanna Die'.- DOMAIN MKII ...
  
  
• Heatseeker (band) (Side stage)
• HolyHell
  HolyHell
  HolyHell is a power metal band, formed in 2005, who are being produced by Joey DeMaio of Manowar. The band has delayed the release of their debut album, choosing instead to tour with Manowar and Rhapsody of Fire....
  
  
• Jack Starr's Burning Starr
  Jack Starr's Burning Starr
  Jack Starr's Burning Starr is an American heavy metal band from New York, formed in 1984. The band was founded and guided by former Virgin Steele guitarist Jack Starr and enjoyed limited success in the USA during the explosion of hair metal in the second half of the 80s...
  
  
• Kingdom Come
  Kingdom Come (band)
  Kingdom Come is a hard rock band fronted by Hamburg-born vocalist Lenny Wolf. The group's first album, Kingdom Come was that band's only international hit. It currently consists of an entirely German line-up.-History:...
  
  
• Manowar
• Metal Force
  Metal Force
  "Metal Force" is a Heavy Metal band from Germany.-History:The band is heavily influenced by Manowar both musically and lyrically, and even had former Manowar guitarist Ross "The Boss" Friedman appear on their second album, Sword & Sorcery.They call their music True Metal "Metal Force" (formerly...
  
  
• Ulytau
  Ulytau
  Ulytau , literally meaning "the holy mountain", is a popular instrumental folk metal trio from Kazakhstan. Their music combines the sound of the violin and electric guitar with the dombra, a traditional two stringed instrument from their country.-Biography:...
  
  
• Van Canto
  Van Canto
  Van Canto is an a cappella metal band from Germany, founded in 2006 and composed of five singers and a drummer. Although the group is often classified as an a cappella ensemble, they use real drums in their music, instead of vocal percussion or beatboxing....
  
  
• Wizard

Summary

The 2009 festival was located in Lorelei

Lorelei

The Lorelei is a rock on the eastern bank of the Rhine near St. Goarshausen, Germany, which soars some 120 metres above the waterline. It marks the narrowest part of the river between Switzerland and the North Sea. A very strong current and rocks below the waterline have caused many boat...

 instead of Bad Arolsen, and lasted for only two days. The headline event of the festival was a performance from Manowar on the second day of the festival.

2010

• Arch Enemy
• Crosswind
  Crosswind
  A crosswind is any wind that has a perpendicular component to the line or direction of travel. In aviation, a crosswind is the component of wind that is blowing across the runway making landings and take-offs more difficult than if the wind were blowing straight down the runway...
  
  
• HolyHell
  HolyHell
  HolyHell is a power metal band, formed in 2005, who are being produced by Joey DeMaio of Manowar. The band has delayed the release of their debut album, choosing instead to tour with Manowar and Rhapsody of Fire....
  
  
• Kamelot
  Kamelot
  Kamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...
  
  
• Manowar
• Metalforce
• Virgin Steele
  Virgin Steele
  Virgin Steele is a heavy metal band from New York, originally formed in 1981.The band released a few career highlights albums...
  
  
• Who Was I

Summary

In 2010, the Magic Circle Festival took place on the last day of the Metalcamp

Metalcamp

Metalcamp is a heavy metal music festival held annually in Slovenia since 2004.-2004:Danzig, Apocalyptica, Hypocrisy, Sentenced, Primal Fear, Katatonia, Dew-Scented, Dead Soul Tribe, Fleshcrawl, Mnemic, Prospect, Belphegor, Ancient, Destruction, Brainstorm, Dark Funeral, Vintersorg, Finntroll,...

 Festival in Tolmin

Tolmin

Tolmin is a small town and municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia.-Geography:Tolmin, the old town that gave the name to the entire area , is the largest settlement in the Upper Soča Valley , as well as its economic, cultural and administrative centre. It is located on a terrace above the...

, Slovenia

Slovenia

Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...

. As per usual, it was headlined by Manowar.

DVD

A 2 disc DVD package of the 2007 event was released in October 2007. It was produced

Executive producer

An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...

 by Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio

Joey DeMaio

Joey DeMaio is an American bass player and main songwriter for the heavy metal band Manowar which he co-founded in 1980. He is also the founder and CEO of Magic Circle Music....

 and directed by Neil Johnson

Neil Johnson (director)

Neil Brook Johnson is a British film and music video producer, director, and editor best known for his long association with heavy metal band Manowar, and for directing and writing Science Fiction Films.-Early life:...

.

The DVD was also included as a free gift for a limited time to anyone who bought tickets for Magic Circle Festival 2008.

A DVD covering the 2008 festival was released in September 2008.